Loose leaf visible index



March 26, 1935. R. F. POWER 1,995,674

LOOSE LEAF VISIBLE INDEX Filed April 27, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 R. F.POWER March 26, 1935. POWER 1,995,674

LOOSE LEAF VISIBLE INDEX Filed April 27, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 26,1935. R. F. POWER LOOSE LEAF VISIBLE INDEX Filed April 27. 1932 3Sheets-Sheet 3 z -1 IIIIIFHDUI I- Patented Mar. 26, 1935 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE LOOSE LEAF VISIBLE INDEX Richard Fitz Power, Hamps tead,London, England, assignor to 'Morland & Impey Limited, Northfield,Birmingham, England 7 Application April 27, 1932, Serial No.1607.,810

In Great Britain May 28, 1931 2 Claims.

ferred to as dividers a plurality of relatively stout sheets, hereinreeach of the size of the book, and on-each of which are supported aseries of relatively small leav relation so that a strip of each leaf isvisible and es" arranged in overlapped on which indicia are formed toindicate the contents of theindividual A "characteristic tea leaves.

sure of such a visible index is the removability of the divider and itsleaves as a unit witho ment of the leaves in the other units.

ut upsetting the arrange- In such a construction "the dividers aregenerally provided with studs or equivalen t integers by which therespective series of leaves is removably secured to the divider, thedividers being thereby interlocked, which prevents relative -movement,the whole being secured into book form by clamping means.

The provision of the studs or equivalent means on the dividersintroduces a thickness to the book at the binding considerably greaterthan at the fore edge of the book, hence the binder assumes,

normally, a wedge shape.

frequently aggravated This tapering form is in accommodating the ingleaves together in a loose leaf visible index so as to obtain a precisepredetermined width at the binding area.

Another object is to ing leaves together in devise a method of bindaloose leaf visible index so as to obtaina precise predetermined width atthe binding area which will compensate 'for the thickness of the binding.means so that the top cover lies parallel to the back cover.

Another object of the invention is to devise a means of forming unitdexes in which the thi s for loose leaf visible inckness of the paper-overlying the securing means for the unit is substan tially-even fromend to end of the margin at the binding area and another object is toregulate.

the thickness .of..the paper in the binding area of such units so as tocompensate for the thickness of .the unit securing means. i

Further and other objects of. the invention will be understoodirom thefollowing description and appended claims.

In order that the inv ention may be more clearly understood preferredembodiments will now be described by way of example only, with referenceto the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. l diagrammaticallyillustrates an arrangement of overlapped sheets eachhav'ing two lugs,wherein the total width of the lugs on any one sheet equals the width ofthe overlap;

Fig. 2 shows, also diagrammatically, a further arrangement of sheetseach having two lugs, wherein the total width of the lugs on any onesheet equals twice the width of the overlap;

Fig. 3 shows diagrammatically another arrangement of sheets each havinga single lug, each lug having a width equal to three times the width ofthe overlap;

Fig. 3a showsa modified form of the Fig. 3 construction wherein themiddle part of the single lug is cut out leaving a lug width equal totwo overlaps;

Fig. 4 shows yet another arrangement wherein each sheet has three lugsand the combined width of the three lugs on one sheet'equalsthree timesthe width of the overlap.

Fig. 5 is a pictorial view of a visible index book constructed accordingto the present invention but not showing any details of the lugs;

Fig. 6 is a frontend elevation thereof.

Fig. '7 is an end elevation on an enlarged scale of the book shown inFig. 6 showing the details of the lug arrangement and of the anchoringmeans therefor;

Fig. 8 is a View in cross section on the line VIII VIII of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a pictorial view of a divider for use in a book according tothe invention; and

Fig. 10 is an elevation of the divider shown in Fig. 9.

In the drawings the lugs formed in the marginal area of the leaves inaccordance with the invention are identified by the reference 1 and thecut-away portions by which the lugs are formed are indicated by thereference 2.

Fig. 1 shows an arrangement where the lugs are each equal to half thewidth of the overlap, that is the sum of the widths of the lugs on oneleaf is equal to the overlap. If such leaves are arranged in overlappedrelation on a divider the thickness of the paper in the marginal areawill nowhere be greater than the thickness of one leaf only.

Accordingly in such an arrangement the gradual increase in thickness ofthe paper from the top to the bottom of the margin of the divider, whichoccurs in the ordinary well known form of index, is entirely eliminatedand thereby a large space in the marginal area is gained for theaccommodation of the whole of the binding mechanism.

In Fig. 2 a similar construction is shown, but in this case the lugs areeach equal to the width of the overlap, hence the maximum thickness ofpaper anywhere along the margin will be equal to the thickness of twoleaves and accordingly in such a construction there will besubstantially the same gain of space in the thickness of the book at thebinding as is derived from the construction referred to in describingFig. l in which the thickness is equal to that of one leaf for theacconiodation of the binding means.

Following the principle laid down in carrying out the invention thethickness of the paper in the margin may be precisely regulated, that iswithin the limits of one leaf thickness.

In Fig. 3 is shown an alternative form in which one lug only is producedin the middle of the leaf the lug being of just sufiiicent width topermit of engagement with the binding means of the divider in such amanner as to prevent pivoting of the leaf.

In such a construction the lug being of a width equal to three overlaps,the maximum thickness of paper in the binding area of the divider isequal to the thickness of three leaves.

An alternative application of the construction shown in Fig. 3 isillustrated in Fig. 4 in which instead of one lug equalling threeoverlaps, three lugs are employed, each equal to the width of oneoverlap.

The construction shown in Fig. 3 may be modified by cutting out themiddle part of the lug, as indicated at 2a in Fig. 3a, thereby thethickness of paper in the margin of the index is reduced by thethickness of one leaf as the width of each of the two remaining lugsleft is equal to one overlap. However, the construction shown in Fig. 3is preferred as it provides greater mechanical strength resistingpivoting.

In accordance with the novel principle underlying the invention theextent of the portion cutaway from the margin of each leaf within thebinding area is precisely regulated so that the sum of the widths of thelugs left on one sheet bears a definite predetermined ratio to theoverlap and thereby the extent of the maximum thickness of paper on adivider within the binding area is predetermined.

To obtain the thickness of one leaf thickness from the top to the bottomof the divider, the sum of the widths of the lugs on a leaf must equalthe width of the overlap. If two lugs are used they will each be equalto half the width of the overlap.

To obtain a thickness in the marginal area of the divider equal to thethickness of two superimposed leaves two lugs will be used on each leaf,each lug being equal to the overlap.

By reducing the thickness of the paper in the margin of the index, aspace in the margin is gained to accommodate the binding means. Thisresult is clearly illustrated in the construction shown in Figs. 5 to 8,in which the invention is shown as applied to a binding means asdescribed and claimed in United States Patent Specification No.1,856,337, dated May 3rd, 1932, whereby a rabbetted portion is formed atthe binding area to receive the binding means which become locatedwithin the plane containing the top cover when resting on the body ofthe leaves.

The construction comprises front and back covers 3 and 4 connected bythongs or clamping means 5 anchored in the back cover 4 and connected toan adjustable bar indicated at 6, the position of which with regard tothe back of the book is controlled by a screw threaded spindle indicatedat 7 held against axial displacement by means of a block 7a and operatedby hand by a key 8 entering the edge of the book.

By operating the key 8 the bar 6 is moved laterally and according to itsdirection the thongs are tightened or loosened.

Associated with the rear edges of each cover are clamping bars 9constituting binding means cut away for the passage of the thongs 5,each clamping bar being formed with a shoulder which engages the back ofthe respective cover and on which its cover hinges.

In this construction each divider 10 (Figs. 9 and 10) of the index isembossed at 12 and carries at the margin within the binding area, twometal strips 11 from which punched protuberances in the form of cones11a may project from each side of the divider alternately, theprotuberances being of tapered nature so that they fit one over theother as shown in Figs. '7 and 8 and as clearly described in theaforesaid United States Patent Specification No. 1,856,337. Theseprotuberances are in nature studs which act as anchoring means to engagein perforations in the area of the margin of the leaf which in theconstruction being described, is limited to lugs 1 of predeterminedwidth, thereby the leaves of a series are secured as a unit and byreason of the studs fitting one over the other, the dividers areinterlocked.

In order to collect the dividers within the book the metal strips 11 areperforated for the passage of posts 13 carried by the clamping bars 9,the collected dividers being then clamped together by the thongs 5. Thebars 9 are also provided with holes 14 for engagement by the cones 11aon the divider 10.

As clearly illustrated in Figs. 5 to 8, the control of the thickness ofthe paper on each divider provides a space to accommodate the bindingmeans, whereby the top cover 3 is disposed parallel to the back cover 4at the binding edge, as the amount of paper removed from the marginalarea of the leaves of the index has compensated for the thickness of thestrips 11 and of the binding means including the clamping bars 9.

As can be seen from the detail views in Figs. 7 and 8, five dividers 10are employed and between each two adjacent dividers are twelveoverlapping sheets. Each sheet has four lugs and the width of each lug 1is equal to the width of the overlap. Hence the combined width of allthe lugs on one sheet equals four times the width of the overlap.

It will be seen from Figs. 7 and 8 that nowhere in the binding area arethere more than four overlapping lugs. Hence the total lug thickness inthe margin is equal to that of sixteen sheets only whereas the totalnumber of overlapping sheets is forty-eight.

In Figs. 7 and 8 the lugs 1 are shown separated for the sake of claritybut when the clamping means are tightened the lugs are compressedclosely.

Thus, not only can the clamping bars 9 be countersunk into the bindingarea, but also the thickness of the dividers 10 and associated metalstrips 11 is compensated for.

The sheets in Figs. '7 and 8 are not shown individually owing tolimitation of space. Their arrangement can clearly be seen from Figs. 9and 10 which show a divider or unit.

In Figs. 9 and 10 each sheet has two lugs 1 whose combined width equalstwice the overlap. Hence there are no more than two superimposed lugsanywhere on the divider, in spite of the fact that the divider carriesthirteen sheets.

It will be seen that the first six and the last six lugs on the dividerhave no other lugs superimposed on them, whereas the lugs in the middledo lie one on the other, there being seven pairs of such superimposedlugs.

The dividers, as shown are of the same size as the sheets, which aresupported by the dividers, and the latter may be embossed as shown at 12to compensate for the variation in thickness of paper occurring in thebody of the leaves of the book.

If desired, however, the dividers may be made only the same width as themetal strips 11 in which case the dividers do not extend between thesheets.

Although in the construction described the leaves on each divider areshown treated in accordance with the invention to accommodate theparticular binding means shown, this is by way of example only as wherethinner or different bindings are employed a lesser amount of paper maybe removed from the binding area according to the invention and to thisend the leaves only on one portion of a number of the units (e. g. onalternate dividers) need be treated. Preferably to attain standardproduction, all the leaves are the same and the width of the lugs oneach leaf regulated to attain the de sired thickness of paper in thebinding area of a completed book of a predetermined number of units.

A further feature of books constructed as described with reference tothe drawings is that the amount of smoothing out effected results in aneven or'substantially even thickness of paper from top to bottom of thebinding area of each unit-hence an even bed is attained for the clampingbar, and because of the absence of tendency to warp, lighter bars may beemployed, or the collected units may be engaged by clips extending overthe binding area.

In the body of the book there is only the thickness of one leaf at thetop and bottom and a maximum thickness depending on the number of leavesin the unit, occurs in the middle of the book, but no claim is madeherein to the novelty of embossing the dividers for this purpose, whichpractice is well known in the art.

Further, it should be noted that the actual form of the lugs as shown inFigs. 1 to 4 of the drawings, are shown by way of example only but theform shown is preferred, bearing in mind that such leaves are requiredto be constructed so that they pass through the platen of a typewriterfor the entry thereon of records.

To this end, the sides 1a of the lugs are preferably as shown in thedrawings, that is at right angles to the paper edge, thereby anarrangement is provided whereby, when the paper is in the platen, thelatter may be rotated in either direction without the lugs catching upin the associated mechanism of the typewriter.

Further, in the drawings the lugs 1 are shown perforated for the passageof hollow protuberances, but this also is by way of example only. Othershaped apertures in the lugs may be employed, the shaped aperturesdepending on the nature of the protuberances, and where the lugs arerelatively narrow as in Fig. 1, they may be notched or shouldered to beengaged by the protuberances or other equivalent means partly passingthrough them. An advantage of securing the leaves to their binding meansby lugs as herein described, is that the leaves are easily turned in thebook.

Apart from the advantages already pointed out a loose leaf visible indexconstructed according to the invention may readily include aconsiderably greater number of leaves than heretofore for a given sizebinding, or the same number of leaves may be comprised in a book havinga binding considerably thinner than heretofore employed.

What I claim is:--

1. In a loose leaf visible index having binders, a plurality ofdividers, means for removably connecting the dividers arranged atintervals along one edge thereof, anchoring means for each dividerarranged in registering spaced relation along the said edge thereof, aplurality of over lapped sheets disposed between a pair of saiddividers, lugs formed on one of the margins of said sheets to correspondwith the said edges of said dividers and to engage with the anchoringmeans,.the width of any one lug on any one sheet being less than thelength of the sheet adjacent the binding edge and the sum of the widthsof all the lugs on anyone sheet bearing a ratio to the width of theoverlapof their respective sheet, which ratio is not greater numericallythan that number of lugs which have a total thickness equal to themaximum thickness which it is desired to accommodate between a pair ofdividers in the binding area, and clamping means connecting the binderswhereby when said clamping means is tightened the thickness of the indexin the binding area is reduced.

2. For use in a loose leaf visible index according to claim 1, a unitcomprising a divider including a strip disposed along one of itsmargins, said strip having disposed thereon in spaced relation aplurality of hollow cones, a plurality of overlapped sheets disposed onsaid divider and lugs formed on one margin of said sheets and havingperforations through which the cones pass, the width of any one lug onany one sheet being less than the length of the sheet adjacent thebinding edge and the sum of the widths of all the lugs on any one sheetbearing a ratio to the width of the overlap of their respective sheet,which ratio is not greater numerically than that number of lugs whichtogether with the strip have a total thickness equal to the maximumthickness of the superimposed sheets on the divider.

RICHARD FITZ POWER.

